Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Brooklyn man arrested in series of slashings, burglary and arson, police say


By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Oct 28, 2025


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

A police car of the New York Police Department.

 

Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images


By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Oct 28, 2025


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Police have arrested and charged a Brooklyn man for three different slashings in the borough this past weekend, including one on the subway, according to NYPD officials.

Odyssey Head, 27, was taken into custody Monday and initially charged with arson, burglary, criminal mischief and criminal trespass for allegedly setting a fire in an apartment building in the Flatbush Gardens complex on New York Avenue on Sunday morning, officials said. Police said no one was injured during that incident and they are investigating if Head had any connection to the building.

Police said they linked Head with the series of slashings: one Saturday morning aboard a northbound Q train as it approached the Cortelyou Road station, another Saturday night on Foster and New York Avenues and a third before 7 a.m. Sunday on Newkirk Avenue in East Flatbush. The last slashing happened about two hours before he allegedly set the fire at Flatbush Gardens, officials said.

The slashing victims — ages 37, 53 and 56 — were all cut on the left side of their faces and taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, according to police. Officials said the slashings appeared to be random attacks.

Head was charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of menacing and three counts of criminal weapons possession in connection with the attacks. He was also charged with seven counts of assault, though officials did not immediately say whether this was related to the slashings or other incidents.

Police said Head lives on West 19th Street near Neptune Avenue in Coney Island. He was in the hospital being evaluated early Tuesday while his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court was pending, according to officials. Information for his lawyer was not immediately available.

This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.

Tagged

brooklyn

flatbush

new york city

public safety

transportation


Brittany Kriegstein

Twitter

Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says

Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.

By

Liam Quigley

Published Oct 2, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET


Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.

By

Ryan Kost

News

Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.

By

Ryan Kost


DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says

By

Stephen Nessen

NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem

By

Ryan Kost


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .